humes



No. 625,447. Patented May 23, I899. J. HUMES.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKiNG ICE.

(Application flied Feb. 2, 1899.)

2- Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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IN V ENTOR WI ESSES:

BY m m 77M ATTORNEYS 1M: Nonms PEYERS cu. vncmxumu. WASHINGTON. n. c

Patented May 23, I899.

J. HUMES. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE.

(Applie ation filed Feb. 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

{No Model.)

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ATTOR N EYS 1m: uonms PETERS cu. worauwa, WASHINGTGN, 0.1:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HUMES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING ICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,447, dated May 23,1899. Application filed February 2,1899. Serial No. 704,255. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HUMES, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, county and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofand Apparatus for Making Ice, of which the following is such afull,clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In the manufacture of ice blocks by means of metallic cans to the wholeor parts of the sides or bottom of which the freezing medium is appliedthe ice forms upon the walls of the interior of the can and graduallymeets near the center thereof, thus forminga single block of ice. It hasbeen customary in thus manufacturing ice to employ a can either entirelyfree from jacketing or insulation for retarding the freezing orpartially or wholly covered on certain sides with such insulation and lto subject the uninsulated or unprotected portions of the can to thefreezing medium. The block of ice formed by the use of such apparatusinvariably contains a comparatively large core or body of white ice,with the sediment therein, which core is so spread out or diffusedlaterally that it materially lessens the commercial value of the ice. Byexperiments 1 have found that by dispensing entirely with insulation ormeans for retarding the freezing at the sides of the ice-mold andconfining such retarding means exclusively to the bottom of theice-mold, so that the freezing medium can be directly applied only tothe sides, the objectionable core is practically prevented from formingin the ice block, and in instances where it does formit is minimized orrestricted to a comparatively small area or vertical stratum, whichbeing centrally located on the line on which the original block issubsequently cut to divide it into commercial blocks or cakes is removedin such cutting, and therefore practically does not show itself in thesame.

I have illustrated types of myinvention in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure l is a vertical section of a freezingmixture tank orcompartment with one of my improved ice-molds set therein and also.shown in vertical section. Figs. 2 to 5, in-

clusive, show end views of different forms of my improved ice-mold, thelower portions of which are broken away and the bottoms thereof,together with the insulation, are shown in vertical section. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of the form of ice-mold shown in Fig. 3, the lowerportion of one end of the mold being broken away and the bottom andinsulation being in vertical section. Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofanother form of my improved ice-mold with the lower portion of one endthereof broken away and shown in vertical transverse section. Fig. 8 isa top View of a finished block of ice taken from the ice-mold and havingthe cutting-lines indicated by dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicatelike parts throughout, 2 is an open-top metallic ice-mold rectangularboth in its cross and horizontal section and having a slight taper fromthe top to the bottom, where it is smaller than at the top. The base ofthe mold 2 is preferably formed with a downwardly-projecting flange 3for elevating the bottom 4 a convenient distance to receive thejacketing 'or insulating material 5, which in the construction shown Ipreferably make fast to the bottom of the mold, so that it constitutes apermanent part thereof. However, this insulating material 5 may bedetachable or so arranged that it may be applied and kept in its placetemporarily and during the freezing process. This insulating material 5is preferably made from athick piece of wood, and I show several Ways ofapplying it.

In Fig. 1 the insulating material 5 for retarding the freezing consistsin a thick piece of suitable material covering the entire bottom of theice-mold on its under side, and it is made to fit snugly within the fourflanges 3, formed around the bottom thereof.

In Fig. 2 the insulating-piece 5 covers the entire bottom of the mold,as in Fig. l, but is not so thick as in the latter construction in orderthat an air-space 6 maybe provided between the bottom of the mold andthe layer of material 5. At a suitable point in the insulation 5 thereis formed a hole 7 in which fits a stopper or plug 8 for closing it. Bythis means when the ice-mold is removed with its block of ice warm wateror air may be injected into the space 6 to thaw the ice from the bottom.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the piece of insulatingmaterial 5 extends entirely across the bottom of the mold, as in theconstructions described, and has its inner face formed with longitudinalrecesses or chambers 9, from which extend perforations 10, leading tothe exterior of the insulation. In using this form warm water or air maybe injected through the holes 10 into the chambers 9, so as to come incontact directly with the metallic bottom of the mold in order to thawthe block of ice at such point. I

In Fig. 4 theinsulating material 5 extends from end to end across theunder side of the bottom of the mold, as in the constructions described,but does not extend the full width of the bottom, so that a space 11isprovided at each side of the insulation, and into these spaces warmwater or air may be introduced to thaw the block of ice at the bottomwhen taking it out of the mold.

In Fig. 5 I show the insulation 5 as divided up into five strips, whichrun the full lengthof the ice-mold and are spaced from each other, so asto provide the recesses 12 12, into which warm water or air may beintroduced excluding the freezing medium from beneath the ice-mold Iapply to the insulating-strips 5 a soft flap 16, made, for example, ofrubber, which extends all the way around the icemold and serves as aseal between the base of the ice-mold and the bottom or floor of thecompartment in which it is set. In Fig. 1 the ice-mold is shown asplaced in a tank 13, containing the freezing medium or brine 14, thelevel of which is some little distance below the top of the mold. Itwill be noted that in this arrangement the freezing medium is applieddirectly to practically the entire sides of the mold, but is not appliedat all to the bottom thereof. By thus excluding the direct action of thefreezing medium from the bottom of the molds the freezing process isretarded at such point only. This retardation at the bottom while theice is forming more rapidly on the sides of the mold brings about anefiect which I haveillustrated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines.

In the freezing process the ice forn is'sim ulfrom the direction of thesides in the same manner as at other points above the bottom. Theconductivity of the metallic bottom of the ice-mold somewhat quickensthe formation of the ice horizontally near the bottom and causes thebodies of ice on the walls to thicken near the lower part a littlefaster than near the upper part, which results in the inner faces of thebodies of ice being inclined, so that considering two oppositely-locatedportions of the forming ice there is a Wedgeshaped space or cavitybetween such parts, with the narrowest part of the cavity lying towardthe bottom of the ice-mold. As the formation of ice increases, theopposite bodies of ice meet first at the bottom of the ice-mold, and thecavity is gradually closed from the bottom upwardly by the horizontalthickening of the forming bodies of ice. 1 This wedgeshaped cavity atone stage of the formation of the ice block is indicated by the dottedlines a a in Fig. 1, which-show an end view of the wedge-shaped cavity;As the ice forms simultaneously on all sides of the ice-mold, all thedimensions of the central cavity gradually decrease, and this serves toforce or squeeze the suspended air and sediment in toward the centralplane, so that eventually the remaining air and sediment are frozen in acomparatively and uniformly thin central layer or stratum having a trendthat is vertical and longitudinal the ice-mold, but falling aconsiderable distance short of the ends of the block. This core-stratumis indicated in its final position in end view by the dotted line b inFig. 1 and inplan view by dotted line 0 cl, Fig. 8, and it is soconcentrated and centralized as to be practically eliminated in cuttingup the original block intomarketable cakes, as

hereinafter described; This closingup of the cavity in the peculiarmanner described can be illustrated by two blocks with their lower edgesplaced together and their opposing faces inclined to the vertical, so asto leave a V- shaped space between them, and then gradually moving thetwo together toclose the V- of the V-shaped space represents practicallythe bottom of the ice-mold, and the contraction of the V-cavity by themovement of the two blocks toward'each other represents thehorizontalthickening of the opposing-bodies of ice. An importantefiectof this local retardation of the freezing process at the bottom of theice-mold is that the air which is suspended in the water at its lowestdepths is given a longer time-to pass upwardly throughthe water and movein toward the center of the body ofwater and also a more desirableformation of grain, so that by the time the opposing bodies of ice meetthe quantity of air has-been materially reduced and all that remains hasbeen centralized in a vertical stratum lying between the opposing'bodiesof ice formed on the sides. I preferably make the ice-mold of such widththat the original block formed in the ice-mold may be divided on thisvertical cen- IIO -- shaped cavity. In this illustration the bottom tralstratum, so that the ice which is removed by such cutting is practicallyall of the white ice which occurs in the original block, and I amthereby enabled to commercially produce a clear and practically corelessice and with the grain characteristics of what is known as plate ice. Inpractice I make the ice-mold about twenty-two inches wide by forty-fourlong and forty-four inches deep, such dimensions giving to the ice-moldabout four times the capacity of the ordinary ice-mold, which isgenerally eleven by twenty-two by forty-four. The size of the ordinarycommercial cake of ice being about eleven by twenty-two by fortyfour, Icut the large block formed in my icemold on the lines shown in Fig. 8,and thereby obtain four cakes of such dimensions. Upon removing the iceblock from the mold it may be cut from one side to the other on line 6 fand then on line g h, which will give two clear cakes of ice ofcommercial size eleven by twenty-two with practically no trace of thecore, as each of the cutting-lines e f and g it fall about the pointwhere the thin core stratum 0 cl terminates. The remaining piece maythen be cut on the line a d, thereby obtaining two more-blocks of thesame commercial size, and in making this cut the core stratum will bepractically removed, thereby leaving a clear cake of ice. Obviously thesame practically coreless cakes of ice may be cut from this block bymaking the first cut longitudinally through the entire block on the sameplane as the line 0 d and then dividing the two halves into equal partson a plane at right angles to c d. In other words, by cutting on twoplanes normal to each other four practically corelessscakes may beobtained. It will be noted that each of the four commercial cakes whichI obtain after cutting the original block is practically what is knownas plate ice, having the same characteristic grain and being free fromcore. the dimensions of the ice-mold may be varied as desired, but thesame result will be obtained as that described in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that where it becomes necessary to draw the iceblock from the mold before the central cavity has been closed up thiscan be done by the use of the particular ice-mold which I havedescribed, for in such case the original block when out up intocommercial -sized cakes is cut on the plane of the cavity, so that noneof the cakes will show a defective cavity, as would be the case if theice were drawn from the ordinary eleven by twenty-two can before thecavity was closed.

\Vith the several different constructions shown the freezing processtakes place in substantially the same way as described in reference toFig. 1, and I obtain the same good results in each case. In the formsshown in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, any freezing mixture or brine that mayenter the recesses formed in the insulation as the mold is set in thetank will remain practically confined therein Of course and soon reachsuch a high temperature that it will not materially interfere with theretardation of the freezing process which I seek to effect at thatpoint. In none of these forms will the freezing-brine circulate throughthe recesses, as such places are practically closed by the floor of thetank when the mold is in its proper position. The recesses through whichaccess is gained to the under side of the bottom at of the ice-mold mayextend only part way the length of the same instead of practically theentire length thereof, as shown.

I Wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the particularconstructions herein set forth, as various modifications maybe made inthe same without departing from the spirit of my invention. Theinsulation or protecting means for the bottom of the ice-mold instead ofbeing attached thereto as I have herein set forth may be itself locatedon the bottom or floor of the tank or compartment in which the ice-moldis placed when the freezing takes place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. An ice-mold having its bottom practically wholly insulated orprotected to retard the freezing process at the bottom and having theentire sides thereof free from insulation whereby the freezing mediummay be directly applied to all parts of the mold other than the bottomthereof whereby there is produced a single block of ice having a thincore located or having a trend between a plurality of substantiallyequal rectangular portions thereof, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. An ice-mold having its bottom provided with insulating or protectingmeans for retarding the freezing process at the bottom whereby there isproduced a single block of ice having a thin core located or having atrend between a plurality of substantially equal rectangular portionsthereof, said insulating or protecting means being provided with one ormore chambers or recesses for placing the exterior of the bottom of saidicemold in communication with the under side of the insulating orprotecting means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An ice-mold having its bottom provided with insulating or protectingmaterial Whereby there is produced a single block of ice having a thincore located or having a trend between a plurality of substantiallyequal rectangular portions thereof, said material being formed with oneor more grooves or recesses upon the inner side thereof and ductsleading from said grooves or recesses through said insulating orprotecting material, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of a portable ice-mold having its bottom providedwith insulating or protecting means for retarding the freezing-processat the bottom when placed in the freezing medium whereby there isproduced a single block of ice having a thin core located or having atrend between a plurality of substantially equal rectangular portionsthereof, and a seal of soft material placed around the bottom of saidmold, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The herein-described method of producing practically coreless cakesof ice of commercial size, which consists in forming a block of ice twoor more times the horizontal sectional area of the commercial size ofcake by freezing the body of Water from the direction of all sides butretarding the freezing from the bottom u pwardly, thereby centralizingthe ice core and concentrating it in a thin vertical stratum extendingcentrally of the ice block, and then cutting the block into cakes ofcommercial size, one of said cuts being on the core stratum to eliminatethe core, substantially as described.

6. The herein-described method of producing practically coreless cakesof ice of commercial size,which consists in forming a block of ice twoor more times the horizontal sectional area of the commercial size ofcake by freezing the body of water so as to centralize the ice core andconcentrate it in a thin vertical stratum extending centrally of the iceblock, and then cutting the block into cakes of commercial size, one ofsaid cuts being on the core stratum to eliminate the core, substantiallyas described.

7. The herein-described artificially-formed block of ice adapted to bedivided into cakes of practically commercial size, the same consistingof a plurality of substantially equal rectangular and practicallycoreless portions separated at least along one line of division by auniformly thin vertical core stratum extending centrally of the iceblock and which core stratum is practically eliminated by cutting intocommercial cakes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day ofFebruary, 1899, in presence of the two subscribing Witnesses.

JAM ES HUMES.

Vitnesses:

A. M. HAYES, WILLIS FOWLER.

